Making a List... Checking it Twice

I'm starting to work out all of the details of Emme's first birthday party this spring. Right now I'm just thinking of the theme (bees!) and obsessively surfing Pinterest, looking for cute DIY ideas (and let me tell you... wowsers... a lot to chose from there!) Of course in my pinning, I keep coming across great free printables for all sorts of things - checklists, party themes, household decorations, etc., and that leads me to announce two things: 1) I've requested a Partytopia pinterest log-in so that I can pin to my heart's content and you all can follow me there. 2) I'll be adding a printables section to this website to categorize some of these Pinterest gems in one place, plus I'll probably add some of my own. As a caveat, I am no graphic artist, but hopefully I'll be able to come up with some cute things that you can make your own. Free of charge, of course... 'cause I'm big-hearted and generous like that. :) If you come across great printables that you would like for me to share, send them my way!

T-shirt Pom Pom Update

So I tried making a t-shirt pom pom a few weeks ago. I won't call it a disaster. Rather, I see it as a teaching moment and a craft opportunity. Yes, the original pom pom unraveled into tons of tiny t-shirt strips that were impossible to corral. Lesson? Size does matter, and these bad boys just aren't meant to  be little. But there I was, with the shreds of a formerly well-worn shirt piled in my lap.  Solution? Make a rag rug for the sun room! I work on it a little bit every couple of days. At this rate, I should be finished by the time I'm 50. At least that gives me plenty of time to wear out or stain some new shirts!

In other party news, I've decided to host a Halloween potluck. It will be a low-key affair, but I did design a cute invitation. I'll post it on here and talk more about the party prep soon.

I've also been thinking more about things that I need to do before I launch this as a bonafide business. One thing I need is designated office space, which I plan to carve out of my hall closet. I'll post some before and after pictures so that you can be apart of the dramatic transformation. I'm sure you're like me and can't resist a good before and after!

Until then, party hearty friends.

Christmas Planning... in August?

Did this summer go by super fast, or was it just me? Seriously - it seems like I was just in Virginia Beach yesterday, and now I'm thinking of October as next month (which it's not really, but it kinda is... I mean, if I want to plan something on the first Saturday in October, that's really only about 5 weeks away - eeek!). Since the mornings are getting cooler and school is back in session, that means that I'm turning my attention to Christmas. My most fave-or-ite day of the year!

Our holiday decorations are a bit of a hodge-podge though.  They are mostly things I've picked up at after-Christmas sales, stuff from the Dollar Tree from when I was an impoverished grad student, and gifts. (Anyone else out there have a Santana ornament hanging on your tree?!?) I don't mind the randomness of my collection on the whole, but I think this is the year to cull things out a little and to put more thought into making a cohesive look.

The only problem is that I'm torn in a couple of different directions. First up - I think I would love a tartan extravaganza! Is tartan in or out these days? I know it's a classic, but it definitely seems to trend more in particular years. Regardless of its hip quotient, I think tartan always conjures up images of sitting around the fire in a cozy Vermont farmhouse, watching snowflakes fall while I sip hot chocolate and my loyal yellow lab keeps my feet warm. Or maybe I've been reading too many L.L. Bean catalogs. Still, you gotta admit that the images below convey a certain something that is quintessentially Christmas. 

(click on photo to link back to its original source site)

(click on photo to link back to its original source site)

On the other hand, I've been really digging a simple DIY look to Christmas decorations lately. Things like this seen on My Delicious Ambiguity:

(from Country Living)

(from L'Atelier)

But now that I look at these photos together, I see that maybe my either-or thinking has been too binary. Is it possible to weave tartan and DIY together with a little holiday magic? We'll see... but way before we get to the final product, I think I'll start working on this:

(from Craftaholics Anonymous)

Craftaholics Anonymous uses theirs as door decorations, but I'm thinking holiday garland on my stairs. If these turn out well, I can imagine tons of cute party uses for them - bunches on the backs of chairs, a bouquet of t-shirt pompoms, garlands, a wreath! Wowsers! I guess I won't be taking that bag of donations to Goodwill just yet! I'll keep you posted on how these turn out.